Erase Your Backache with Spinal Manipulation

The next time you hurt your back, don’t reach for the ibuprofen or ask for a prescription painkiller. A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concludes you can get on your feet again with the simple, effective, drug-free therapy of spinal manipulation. In chiropractic spinal manipulation therapy, a doctor of chiropractic applies specific forces to your spine to align your vertebrae correctly, thereby improving mobility and reducing pain. In this study, patients with less than six weeks occurrence of low-back pain used a 100-point scale to rate their pain. Patients treated with spinal manipulation felt that their pain improved by an average of 10 points. In addition, they moved through their day with less overall pain than people who didn’t receive the therapy.

Ditch the DrugsRecent guidelines from the American College of Physicians suggest that spinal manipulation and other therapies like acupuncture and massage should be tried before over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or naproxen. And, with their risk of addiction, prescription painkillers are also strongly discouraged. While spinal manipulation is safe and effective, there is no evidence it has any serious adverse effects. Minor side effects, like soreness, are generally transient.

Make a PlanIf you’d like a non-invasive, effective way to manage your back pain, contact a local doctor of chiropractic today! Most offer no-obligation evaluations to determine if you’re a good candidate for safe, natural and effective chiropractic care. A chiropractor can examine you and formulate a treatment plan that includes spinal manipulation to help you return to pain-free living as soon as possible.

Hoverboards + Kids = A Trip to the ER?

What kid doesn’t want a ride on one of the flashy self-balancing hoverboards, zipping along the sidewalk without a care in the world? Unfortunately, a new study shows that these seemingly benign toys have sent a slew of children to the emergency room for various injuries. Among U.S. kids under 18 treated in emergency rooms in 2015-16, a total of 26,854 injuries can be chalked up to hoverboards. Right after the first models were launched, there were reports of boards overheating or catching fire. But rather than burns, the majority of injuries sustained by kids using hoverboards came from falls. The journal Pediatrics reported that kids most often presented with injured heads, forearms, or wrists, with more than 40 percent of injuries being classified as fractures. Doctors also noted contusions, strains, and sprains. Fortunately, only about three percent of injuries required hospitalization. Dr. Sean Bandzar, an emergency physician at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell and Columbia University Medical Center in New York City and lead author of the study notes that most of these injuries could be prevented with protective gear. And, since most hoverboard injuries occurred at home, the study found that parental supervision in combination with helmets, leg, and wrist pads, is the best preventative to hoverboard injuries. While it’s true that wheeled toys like hoverboards and skateboards definitely carry risk of injury, there is a great benefit to children to getting exercise and improving their coordination. To provide the safest possible environment for play with these devices, parents should provide proper supervision and make wearing protective gear a non-negotiable house rule.

Lifting With Knees Is Better For The Back

A new French study suggests that lifting with the knees takes more energy than bending at the waist, but that improper lifting can cause lower back pain. The study, published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, found that heart rates increased when subjects squatted to raise and lower a box. The extra energy demand may be why most people ignore warnings about possible back strain.